No, fire is not considered a plasma. 1 Fire is a visible and glowing effect of combustion, which involves the rapid chemical reaction between a fuel and oxygen. 2 While fire does contain ionized gases, it lacks the high degree of ionization and electric conductivity typically associated with plasma.
In other words;
Fire is not classified as a separate state of matter like solids, liquids, gases, or plasmas. Instead, fire is considered a phenomenon or event resulting from a rapid chemical reaction known as combustion.
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Key Takeaways: Is Fire a Plasma?
- Fire is not classified as a separate state of matter like solids, liquids, gases, or plasmas; it is a phenomenon resulting from combustion.
- Fire lacks the high degree of ionization and electrical conductivity typically associated with plasma.
- Fire consists primarily of neutral molecules, with only a small portion being ionized gases.
- While fire can be considered a form of matter due to its occupancy of space and possession of mass, it is not a substance or element in itself but rather a result of a chemical reaction.
Why is fire not considered a plasma?
Fire is not considered a plasma because it lacks the high level of ionization and electrical conductivity typically found in plasmas. 3 While fire does produce some ionized gases, the overall degree of ionization is much lower than what is required to classify it as a plasma.
Plasma is a state of matter in which atoms and molecules have been stripped of their electrons, leading to the presence of free-moving charged particles like ions and electrons. 4 These charged particles make plasma highly conductive, allowing it to respond to electric and magnetic fields.
In contrast, a typical fire is a visible effect of combustion, where a fuel reacts with oxygen to produce heat, light, and various byproducts. 5 The heat in the fire causes some molecules to dissociate into ions and free electrons, leading to ionized gases.
However, the vast majority of the particles in a fire remain neutral molecules and atoms, which limits its ionization level and prevents it from being classified as a plasma.
Therefore, while fire exhibits some plasma-like characteristics such as light emission and ionized gases, it falls short of meeting the criteria for a true plasma state.
What are the differences between fire and plasma?
Here’s a comparison between fire and plasma.
| Fire | Plasma | |
| Composition | Primarily neutral molecules | Charged particles (ions, electrons) |
| Ionization | Low | High |
| Conductivity | Limited | High |
| Temperature | Moderate to high | High |
| Source | Chemical reaction (combustion) | High energy input (e.g., heating, electrical discharge) |
| Light Emission | Yes | Yes |
| Magnetic Effects | Weak | Strong |
| Applications | Heat source, combustion | Fusion reactors, fluorescent lights, plasma displays 6 7 |
Note: This table provides a general comparison, and there can be variations and exceptions depending on specific conditions and types of fire or plasmas.
Is fire a matter or not?
Since matter can be defined as “anything that occupies space and has mass or weight,” fire does occupy space and has mass due to the gases involved in the combustion process. In that sense, fire can be considered a form of matter. However, it is important to note that fire itself is not a substance or an element like solids, liquids, or gases.
Fire is a transient event or phenomenon that occurs when a fuel undergoes combustion in the presence of oxygen and heat.
The visible flame and the gases emitted during combustion are not a separate substance but rather a result of the chemical reaction. The matter involved in fire, such as the gases and particles, are in a highly energetic and rapidly changing state.
So, while fire can be described as a form of matter due to its occupancy of space and possession of mass, it is not considered a distinct state of matter like solids, liquids, gases, or plasmas.
Fire is an outcome of the interaction between matter and energy rather than a fundamental state of matter itself.
Further reading
Is Fire a Gas?
Is Fire an Element?
Is Evaporation a Physical or Chemical Change?
Is Dissolving a Physical or Chemical change?
Is Boiling Water a Physical or Chemical Change?
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References
- Fire. (n.d.). Fire. https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/wikispeedia/wpcd/wp/f/Fire.htm
- Fire – Wikipedia. (2023, April 1). Fire – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire
- Do flames contain plasma? (2014, May 28). Science Questions With Surprising Answers. https://wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2014/05/28/do-flames-contain-plasma/
- Nasa.gov https://descanso.jpl.nasa.gov/SciTechBook/series1/Goebel_03_Chap3_plasphys.pdf
- What is fire? (n.d.). New Scientist. https://www.newscientist.com/question/what-is-fire/
- About Plasmas and Fusion. (n.d.). About Plasmas and Fusion | Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. https://www.pppl.gov/about/about-plasmas-and-fusion
- 3. How do fluorescent lamps work? (n.d.). 3. How Do Fluorescent Lamps Work? https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/en/energy-saving-lamps/l-3/3-cfl-characteristics.htm